Neal Zetter - Writing
Neal
Zetter
AIM High Writing
Summary
Age range KS1 to KS3
Books Yes
DBS Checked Yes, enhanced
Booking
Contact
+44 (0)1535 656015
aimhigh@caboodlebooks.co.uk
Neal Zetter is an award-winning comedy poet, author and entertainer.
About Neal
Neal has a 25-year background in communication management and mentoring who uses the writing and/or performing of poetry to develop literacy, self-expression, confidence, creativity and presentation skills in children, teens and adults.
Neal makes language fun and accessible for the least engaged, while stretching and challenging the most able. He performs in his workshops too, as he has a long track record of appearing in West End comedy and poetry clubs and theatres plus he runs his own club in north London.
Neal’s AIM High Writing Days
Aims:
develop young writers’ self-expression, creativity and literacy skills through writing and performing poetry in a fun and supportive environment
unlock children’s writing/poetry potential by a providing them with a more creative and ‘out the box’ approach than they might be used to
encourage children to develop own poetry style
give children experience of a real live performance poet and an insight into how he writes and works
provide children with a more unusual activity to those on the curriculum
have fun!
Theme:
Neal selects poem theme for the day from a wide range of fun or more serious topics e.g. My Favourite Place, Food, Superheroes, Transport & Travel, Creepy/Horror, Emotions, Fire, Water, Earth & Air, Sport, Heroes/Role Models, Animals & Other Creatures, London, First Person on the Moon + many, many more
or school can request topic
Content:
introduction to the day
warm up games
Neal introduces and discusses poetry theme
Neal performs his own interactive comedy poetry
‘what makes a poem?’ + poetry writing tips inc ‘to rhyme or not to rhyme?’ + ‘the power of language tools’
children plan poems
children write poems
break
children continue writing poems
Q&A with Neal
lunch
editing: how good writers become great writers
children peer-edit poems + rehearse performances in pairs
editing feedback
paired or team word games and poetry writing and performance games
performance tips from Neal
children perform poems
Neal closes with poem
Optional autographs, book sale and signing
Neal’s requirements:
venue: large classroom, studio, library etc – ideally not a hall
flip chart pad with board or interactive or fixed whiteboard
plenty A4 blank or scrap paper (for planning), A4 lined paper (for poems)
pencils and pens for the children – but no rubbers please (!)
A Selection of Neal’s Books
NEW! The Shape of Rainbows. Neal's first mixed-themed poetry book since 2016 has something for everyone: Peanut Butter Nutter, Police Car, Two Mums, Living Next Door to a Viking, Bad Smells and The Day I Ate My School are just a few of the titles you'll find inside it.
When the Bell Goes (A Rapping, Rhyming Trip through Childhood) is jam-packed with nearly fifty of Neal's new poems about school days and growing up, accompanied by wacky facts and jokes galore. For ages 6-13yrs
A hilarious collection of 50 crazy animal-themed poems by Neal ideal for ages 6-13 with comic illustrations from Julian Mosedale.
The Universal Zoo (The Conservation Place at the Far End of Space). Many funny and a few sad poems about a menagerie of mysterious endangered alien creatures all cared for by the Keeper in this special places, a long way from Earth. Ages 6-12
Bookings
To book Neal Zetter please contact
aimhigh@caboodlebooks.co.uk
Neal also offers visits to schools and other settings, click here for more information.